Will The Loom Fall Silent...Only Three Trainees Left, Naju Saetgolnai In Crisis

Emergency Recruitment of Successors Until March 20
Fears of Lineage Break After Successive Deaths of Holders
Three Years of Training Support for Those Selected

The sound of the loom that has turned into clothes and blankets for ordinary people for hundreds of years, known as Naju Saetgolnai, is now on the verge of falling silent. This is because the tradition of spinning thread from cotton and weaving cloth is in danger of being cut off.

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Heritage Center announced on February 11 that they will be openly recruiting future successors of Naju Saetgolnai, which has been designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in Emergency Protection, until March 20. Naju Saetgolnai collectively refers to the fine cotton muslin (cotton fabric) produced in the Naju region and the weaving techniques used to make it. It was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1969, but it failed to withstand the tide of industrialization due to a sharp decline in demand and the arduous production process. To make matters worse, with the consecutive passing of the late holder Noh Jinnam and transmission instructor Kim Hongnam, only three certified trainees are now struggling to keep the tradition alive.

In 2023, the government designated this item as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in Emergency Protection at high risk of transmission being discontinued, and began managing it accordingly. This open call is an emergency lifeline to revive a dying flame. Those selected will receive systematic training and financial support for three years starting this year. Any citizen interested in traditional crafts may apply.

An official from the Cultural Heritage Administration said, "We hope this open call will serve as an opportunity to make the heartbeat of Naju Saetgolnai race again," adding, "We will concentrate our administrative capacity on protecting intangible heritage that is on the brink of extinction."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.